Electric switch.



C. E. ANDERSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 1915.

q 1 Q 99v??? Q U Pat anted May 9, 1916.

3 vwemfoz CARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1316.

Application filed December 18, 1315. Serial No. 67,638.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL ERIC AN ER- SON, acitizen of the United States of America, and residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and 1m proved Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to electrolier switches, the

is a side elevation of a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form; Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is, a section on the line 4-1, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detached perspective of the switch spindle, base and associated parts.

The accompanying illustration shows the switch much enlarged from its normal size. In practice the device is probably less than half the size shown in Fig. 1. In the particular construction illustrated, the fitting comprises an insulating base having a central boss 11 perforated to permit the passage therethrough of the switch spindle 12. The base is also perforated on opposite sides of the boss at 13 and 14;: to perm1t the passage therethrough of the switch term1 nals 15 and 16 formed of angled spring metal, the base fianges of which lie in shallow recesses 17 on the bottom of the 111511" lating body and are secured in position by means of hollow rivets 18 and 19 piercing the body 10. An insulating disk 20 overlies the lower face of the base and is Perforated at 21 and 22 in register with the rivets 18 and 19 to permit the bared ends of the leading-in wires to be passed into the rivets and soldered thereto to establish electrical connection to the switch terminals. The insulating disk 20 is preferably held in position by the rivets 18 and 19., as shown in Fig. 1. It is likewise centrally perforated at 23-to permit the passage of the switch stem 12 therethrough and a reduced portion 24 of the stem is engaged by a split washer 25 resting on the disk.

The rotary switch piece comprises an insulating disk 26' having four peripheral ratchet teeth 27, two opposite teeth of which are overlaid by the contact wings 28 and 29 of the spring metal connector. The web 30 of the latter is centrally perforated at 31 to permit the passage of the switch spindle therethrough, but spaced therefrom a sufficient distance to make no electrical connection therewith. The contact wings 28 and 29 spring from thebases of opposite teeth and their free ends rise out of contact with the faces of these teeth, thus permittlng the contact wings to make and break contact with the switch terminals with a quick snap action. The engagement between the spindle and the switch piece is secured by a cross pin 32 which takes into a diametral slot 33 in the body 26 of the switch piece. The web 30 of the contact wings 28, 29, in assembled position, lies adjacent the hub 33 but insulated'therefrom by a washer 34: which is also slotted at 35 to permit it to be slipped over the switch spindle and past the cross pin 32 into position against the hub 33. In assembled position the cross pin 32 is engaged in the cross slot 32 in the body of the switch piece and the latter as a whole is held in position against the boss 11 of the switch body by the hub 33 of the'switch spindle and the spindle-retaining washer 25. In the assembled switch, the contact wings 28 and 29 rotate in the plane of the switch terminals 15 and 16, the free ends of which overlie ledges 36 and 37 in the switch body, so that they have freedom of radial movement. This freedom permits them to expand under the outward pressure of the contact wings 28 and 29 when the switch is in on position, while upon the break of the switch, they move radiallyinward and take up a position at the base of opposite ratchet teeth 27 and serve as detents to prevent the reverse rotation of the switch spindle. The latter is actuated by means of a knurled head 38 screwed on the threaded end 39 of the stem.

The casing for the switch comprises a sheet metal shell 10 of any desired shape adapted to rest at one end against the peripheral shoulder 41 on the base and having a notch 42 engaged by a boss 43 on the base to prevent relative rotation of these parts, whiie its escape in the opposite direction is prevented by the flange 44: of the nut 45 screwed on. the threaded end 39 of the spindle beneath the head 38. An insulating lining 46 is provided within-the casing. to prevent possible short-circuiting therethrough. The outer end of the casing carries an external threaded nipple 47 with a pair of lock nuts 48 and 49 thereon between which the edges of a central hole in a canopy 50 may be clamped, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The switch construction is simple to manufacture but rugged and serviceable and well adapted to the use for which it is designed. It affords awide double break in a very small compass. Various modifications of construction will readily occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart ing a perforated base of insulating material,

switch terminals passing through the perforated base, wire terminal plates therefor resting against one face of the base, and hollow rivets piercing the base and terminal plates and serving not only to hold said parts assembled but also to receive the bared ends of leading-in wires, together with a cover disk of insulation overlying said terminal plates and secured in position by said rivets.

3. A switch ofthe type described comprising a base of insulating material having a central boss and perforations on opposite sides thereof, terminal plates on one face of said base and switch blades extending therefrom through the perforations in the base to position on opposite sides of said boss, and means for holding said parts in assembled position, in combination with a switch spindle passing axially through said boss and a switch contact thereon adapted to make and break contact with the switch terminals. i p v 4. A switch of the type described, comprising an insulating base with peripheral shoulder, a casing seated against said shoulder and having an externally threaded nipple, at one end, lock nuts on said nipple to engage a canopy between the same, a switch stem projecting beyond said nipple and means on said stem to operate the switch.

5. A switch of the type described, comprising an insulating base with peripheral shoulder, a casing seated against said shoulder and having an externally threaded nipple, at one end, lock nuts on said nipple to engage a canopy between the same, a switch stem projecting beyond said nipple and vmeans on said stem to operate the switch, together with means on said stem to retain the casing seated against said base.

In testimony whereof l-have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL ERIC ANDERSON.

"Witnesses H. M. VVICHERT, GEORGE B. THOMAS. 

